Celtics welcome Stevens aboard, but will Rondo?

It was 17 minutes into a 27-minute press conference when the question most everyone was waiting for was posed to new Celtics coach Brad Stevens. So what about Rajon Rondo?

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 5, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 5, 2013 at 5:23 AM

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 5, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 5, 2013 at 5:23 AM

WALTHAM

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It was 17 minutes into a 27-minute press conference when the question most everyone was waiting for was posed to new Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

So what about Rajon Rondo?

The 36-year-old was ready with a response that suggests the former Butler University coach had spent the better part of two days since being tabbed as the franchise’s 17th bench leader thinking about it.

"There’s no bigger fan of Rajon Rondo than me," Stevens said Friday morning at the team’s practice facility. "I think the way he plays, his instincts, his ability to make people better, the way he sees things ahead of the play — he’s an incredibly, incredibly talented person.

"Everyone I’ve talked to has just raved about how intellectual he is, and how great he is to get in the gym. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and I’m looking forward to sitting down with him and talking ball."

On a day when Stevens did more than a dozen interviews, was asked hundreds of questions over the course of more than two hours, and displayed equal parts confidence and humility, the Rondo responses figured to be the handful of most analyzed amid a flurry of softballs.

Consider the olive branch extended to the four-time All-Star. There seems to be genuine hope from Stevens that he accepts it.

"He’s not only a really good basketball player, but he’s really intelligent," Stevens later added during one-on-one interviews. "You can see that in his game. I think he’s not only got an intelligence in the way he plays, but also an instinctive ability to see the next play coming. You can see that on both ends of the floor.

"Combine that with a good, competitive spirit, and you’ve really got what he’s been. That’s a really, really good player — one of the best players in this league. I can’t wait to meet him. I can’t wait to spend time with him. I hope that he can feel like, at the end of the day, he’s learned a thing or two from me. But I’m guessing I’ll learn a lot more from him."

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who has repeatedly said — amid much skepticism — that he is not looking to trade Rondo, proclaimed a potentially dynamic partnership between the young coach and veteran point guard as the Celtics embark on The Great Rebuild.

"I think Brad and Rondo will get along great," Ainge said. "Rajon is a brilliant basketball player. I think they’ll see eye to eye. You always talk about Rajon like he’s sort of this elephant in the room. Rajon has been our best player for the past few years. There’s a reason why we’ve had so much success, at times, in the playoffs.

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"I think communication will be key between those two. But I think Brad, being a new coach in the NBA, will be able to rely on him a little more for input, strategy and get his feedback."

Stevens said he had been able to contact all of the players under contract over the past two days and that Avery Bradley came by personally to welcome him before the press conference. He added that Jeff Green got back to him immediately after he called, that he talked with Jared Sullinger and knows Sullinger well since he played for former Butler coach Thad Matta at Ohio State, and that he is very familiar with Courtney Lee since he grew up five minutes from the Butler campus in Indianapolis

"There are a lot of connections there, and a lot of ties there," said Stevens. "The response from them has really been kind and good."

Still, he admits he has a lot to learn when it comes to the specifics of his new players’ games, and how their skills will shape his NBA coaching philosophy.

"The part I do need to take over the next couple of weeks is watching our players play in greater depth and figuring out what they do best," Stevens said. "Maybe there’s something there that I’m not quite as well-versed at, and I can bring somebody in to fit their strengths. I think I need to be very open to that."

Stevens said several times he will make mistakes, but that he will "bust it" in order to correct them and prevent repeats for the future. He added that he will make investments in his players, and will stand by the ones who stand by him.

"Whether that’s sales, or whether that’s just getting people on board," he said, "I’ve always really enjoyed working with, and would run through the wall for, people I’ve liked. Or people who really had a vested interest in me."

Stevens did his best on Friday to make sure it was known that he wants Rondo to be one of those people.

"Not worried about reputation," he said. "I’ve heard a lot of things about a lot of people over the course of time, and then you sit down with them, and everything clicks."

Scott Souza can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@wickedlocal.com. Follow him @scott_souza.